Handling
This simple strap attachment around your neck or wrist is the single most effective tool to prevent expensive drops.
Camera Strap
This camera setting plays a rapid series of frames per second when you hold down the shutter button, perfect for sports or action.
Continuous Shooting Mode / Burst Mode
This exposure triangle vertex controls the duration that light is allowed to hit the camera sensor.
Shutter Speed
This is the physical button you press down with your index finger to actually take a photograph.
Shutter Button
This famous instant film camera brand, famous for letting you watch photos develop right in your hand, was founded by Edwin Land in 1937.
Polaroid
When holding a camera, your left hand should be placed under this component to support weight and allow smooth zooming or focusing.
Camera Lens
This camera shooting mode lets you manually control the shutter speed while the camera automatically selects the matching aperture.
Shutter Priority Mode (Tv or S)
Represented by an 'f-number', this setting controls the size of the opening in the lens and determines depth of field.
Aperture
This is the term for a photograph of a person or animal, usually focusing heavily on their face and expression.
Portrait
In 1975, Kodak engineer Steven Sasson invented the world's first version of this camera technology, though Kodak famously shelved it.
Digital Camera
To prevent camera shake and blurry photos in low light, this essential three-legged support tool should be used.
Tripod
This feature on your camera screen helps you review a photo right after taking it to check if your subject blinked or if the picture is blurry.
Image playback / Image review
Raising this setting makes your camera sensor more sensitive to light, but introduces unwanted digital noise or grain.
ISO
This is the general term for a photograph that captures scenery, mountains, oceans, forests, or expansive outdoor views.
Landscape
The word "photography" was coined in 1839 by combining two Greek words that literally translate to this phrase.
"drawing with light" (or "painting with light")
Before heading out for a long day of shooting, a photographer should always check that their memory card is formatted, and this vital power source is fully charged.
Battery
Turning on this camera timer gives you 2 or 10 seconds to run into the frame so you can be part of the group photo.
Self-Timer
This file format setting saves uncompressed, unprocessed image data directly from the sensor, offering maximum dynamic range for editing.
RAW
This compositional rule suggests dividing your image into a 3x3 grid and placing key visual elements along the gridlines or intersections.
Rule of Thirds
George Eastman claimed this famous camera brand name had no actual meaning, choosing it simply because he liked the letter "K" as a strong, incisive sound.
Kodak
Pulling your elbows tight against your upper body while holding your camera provides this natural kind of support to prevent blur.
Human tripod / Body stability
This built-in pop-up feature floods a dark scene with artificial light when there isn't enough natural sunshine.
Built-In Flash
When you want the camera to automatically pick the shutter speed while you manually choose the artistic blur of the aperture, you use this priority mode.
Aperture Priority mode (A or Av)
This aesthetic quality refers to the way a lens renders out-of-focus points of light, often appearing as soft, creamy orbs.
Bokeh
In the early days of film photography, people rarely smiled in portraits because exposures took so long and holding a stiff, serious face was much easier than holding a smile.
Long Exposure Times